DE102017007849B4 - Method for operating a motor vehicle and motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for operating a motor vehicle (10), in which a control device (22) of the motor vehicle (10) receives an operating input made by a vehicle occupant, wherein a sensor device (24) of the motor vehicle (10) is used to check whether at least one predetermined criterion is met, wherein upon fulfillment of the at least one predetermined criterion and receipt of the operating input, the control device (22) causes at least one sun visor (14, 38) of the motor vehicle (10) to move from a stowed position into a functional position in which the at least one sun visor (14, 38) is folded down, characterized in that a sensor device (24) of the motor vehicle (10) designed as a camera is used to check as the at least one predetermined criterion whether the motor vehicle (10) is approaching a traffic light system which is emitting a red light signal, or which will be emitting a red light signal until the motor vehicle (10) arrives at the traffic light system, wherein the control device (22) causes a cover (26) of a mirror (28) attached to the at least one sun visor (14, 38) to move from a closed position of the cover (26) to an open position.

Description

The invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle, in which a control device of the motor vehicle receives an operating input made by a vehicle occupant. Furthermore, the invention relates to a motor vehicle.

The DE 100 57 265 A1 Describes a method in which a driver lowers a driver's sun visor. A sensor for detecting ambient light intensity transmits its signals to a control unit, which evaluates them. If the driver's sun visor is lowered and the light sensor detects daylight, a central sun visor, located between the driver's sun visor and a passenger's sun visor, also pivots into the functional position.

The DE 10 2015 103 194 A1 describes a method in which, in an autonomous mode of a vehicle, sun visors are selectively lowered or raised depending on signals received from light sensors.

The DE 10 2004 007 521 A1 describes a device for controlling a glare protection device depending on the class of vehicle occupants, for example depending on whether a vehicle occupant is an adult or a child in a child seat.

The DE 102 53 507 A1 describes a method for automatically controlling a sun visor installed in a motor vehicle to provide protection against possible glare from the sun. Retracting the sun visor may be useful before traffic lights to make it easier to read the traffic light status.

In traffic, female drivers often lower the sun visor and look at themselves in the makeup mirror attached to the sun visor to check their makeup and, if necessary, touch up or improve it. However, this is tedious and cumbersome. First, the sun visor must be lowered manually. Then, the driver searches the glove compartment or various storage compartments for makeup items, which they then have to grab and use. This also takes a relatively long time, during which the driver is distracted from the road.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved method of the type mentioned at the outset and a motor vehicle designed to carry out such a method.

This object is achieved by a method having the features of patent claim 1 and by a motor vehicle having the features of patent claim 8. Advantageous embodiments with expedient further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent patent claims.

In the method according to the invention for operating a motor vehicle, a control device of the motor vehicle receives an operating input made by a vehicle occupant. A sensor device of the motor vehicle checks whether at least one predetermined criterion is met. If the at least one predetermined criterion is met and the operating input is received, the control device causes at least one sun visor of the motor vehicle to move from a stowed position to a functional position. In the functional position, the at least one sun visor is folded down. Because the sensor device of the motor vehicle checks whether the predetermined criterion is met, the sun visor is not folded down solely upon receipt of the operating input from the vehicle occupant. This ensures that the sun visor is folded down only when this is unproblematic with regard to the traffic situation, for example when the vehicle's speed is slowing down and the vehicle is about to come to a stop. An improved method is therefore created.

In addition, the vehicle occupant, especially female, can more quickly use a mirror mounted on the sun visor, for example, to check their makeup, without having to lower the sun visor themselves. Consequently, checking their makeup and, if necessary, correcting or improving it can be done very quickly. This helps avoid disruption to traffic.

In the method according to the invention, a sensor device of the motor vehicle, designed as a camera, is used to check as the at least one predetermined criterion whether the motor vehicle is approaching a traffic light system which is emitting a red light signal, or which will emit a red light until the motor vehicle arrives at the traffic light system. The fulfillment of these criteria can preferably be checked by a front camera of the motor vehicle Image data captured by the vehicle can be evaluated, particularly by means of the control device. This ensures that the sun visor is only folded down when it is expected that the vehicle will stop at the traffic light in the near future and remain there for a while. This makes checking makeup or similar tasks particularly straightforward. Furthermore, the sun visor does not need to be manually moved into the functional position, i.e. folded down. This is done by an actuator controlled by the control device, for example in the form of an electric motor.

In the method according to the invention, the control device causes a cover of a mirror attached to the at least one sun visor to move from a closed position of the cover to an open position of the cover. This can also be accomplished by controlling an actuator that moves the cover. Furthermore, the cover can already be moved into the open position while the sun visor is being folded down. This makes the mirror very quickly available to the (female) vehicle occupant, for example, if they want to check and/or adjust their makeup. Such automatic exposure of the mirror is particularly convenient for the vehicle occupant.

When the mirror cover is moved into the open position, at least one light source is preferably switched on so that the vehicle occupant can see himself particularly well in the mirror.

It has been shown to be further advantageous if the control device causes the opening of a storage compartment formed in the at least one sun visor and containing makeup utensils. In this way, the makeup utensils are directly and easily accessible to the vehicle occupant, in particular to a female driver of the motor vehicle.

The makeup utensils can include cosmetic tissues, powder, lipstick, eye shadow, eyeliner, or the like. Arranging the makeup utensils in the storage compartment formed in the sun visor ensures a uniform and defined positioning of the makeup utensils in the vehicle, making them easy to handle for the person or vehicle occupant using the makeup utensils. Furthermore, unnecessary bending when searching for makeup utensils in storage compartments, a handbag, or the like can be avoided. Furthermore, the vehicle occupant does not have to stretch laboriously to reach makeup utensils stored in a glove compartment or the like. Rather, the makeup utensils, which are housed in the storage compartment and, in particular, are fixed or held by suitable holders, are very easy and simple to reach for the vehicle occupant.

By providing a storage compartment for makeup utensils in the sun visor, the value of the sun visor is also considerably increased. Such premium products are particularly appealing to female vehicle occupants and can generate a sense of fascination. Furthermore, the storage compartment can be particularly well-positioned in the area of the sun visor, for example, where a sign warning of airbag deployment on the front passenger seat is usually affixed. Furthermore, the appearance of the folded-down sun visor is improved on the side facing the vehicle occupant if the storage compartment containing the makeup utensils is located there instead of the airbag warning sign. The airbag warning sign can then be positioned, for example, in a location on the vehicle's roof lining that is concealed by the sun visor when the sun visor is folded up, and/or in or on a glove compartment of the vehicle.

A container can also be arranged in the storage compartment, which can be removed from the storage compartment and thus easily filled with the makeup utensils desired by the vehicle occupant. However, it can also be provided that the container is already equipped with certain makeup utensils when the vehicle is handed over to a vehicle user as a new vehicle. In particular, it can be provided that the equipment of the storage compartment and/or the container arranged or detachably received in the storage compartment can be configured more or less extensively by the user of the vehicle depending on the desired equipment line. This makes it easy to accommodate the different requirements of the vehicle occupants with regard to makeup utensils.

Preferably, the control device causes the opening of a container accommodated in the storage compartment and containing makeup utensils. For example, a container in the form of a makeup box can be detachably accommodated in the storage compartment, and the container is usually closed by means of a lid. If the control device now causes the lid to open, easy access to the make-up utensils for the vehicle occupant are possible.

Removing the container from the storage compartment reveals a mirror located within the storage compartment. Preferably, the mirror, located at the bottom of the storage compartment, magnifies objects reflected by it more than another mirror attached to the sun visor and concealed by a cover. Such a magnifying mirror makes handling makeup easier, faster, and safer.

Furthermore, it can be provided that such a magnifying mirror is arranged as a second mirror below the mirror that can be concealed by the cover. In this case, the control device preferably triggers the release of the magnifying mirror by pushing aside the mirror arranged in front of or above the magnifying mirror, which can be concealed by the cover. This can be triggered, in particular, by removing at least one makeup utensil and/or the container containing the makeup utensil from the storage compartment.

It is particularly convenient if the operating input is given by the vehicle occupant via voice input. For example, the vehicle occupant can say a command such as "Apply make-up" or "Day Makeup Look On", and this command is received and recognized by the control device. In response to this command, the sun visor is then moved into the functional position or folded down, provided at least one predetermined criterion is met. By giving a command such as "End of make-up" or "Make-up finished" or "Day Makeup Look Off", the sun visor can be moved back into its stowed position, i.e. folded up, at the vehicle occupant's request. An automatic opening and/or closing function can therefore be implemented, particularly with voice input.

Additionally or alternatively, the operating input can be made via a control element of the vehicle, such as a touchpad and/or touchscreen. Such an operating input and/or button control can also be used to easily and reliably ensure that the vehicle's control system receives the operating input, which ultimately leads to the lowering of the sun visor.

Additionally or alternatively, the operating input can be made as an input on a mobile device coupled to the control device. For example, the operating input can be transmitted to the control device via an application on a mobile device such as a smartphone, tablet, or the like. The control device can, in particular, be coupled to the mobile device wirelessly, for example via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or the like. This also makes it easy to move the sun visor into the functional position.

Preferably, a seat occupancy detection device checks whether a driver's seat of the motor vehicle is occupied. If the driver's seat is occupied, at least one sun visor associated with the driver's seat is moved into the functional position. This allows a female driver, in particular, to check and/or touch up her makeup with the sun visor automatically lowered and the mirror exposed.

In particular, if only the driver's seat of the vehicle is occupied, the control device can very easily determine which sun visor should be moved into the functional position to check the make-up.

However, it may also happen that both the driver's seat and at least one vehicle seat other than the driver's seat of the motor vehicle are occupied.

Preferably, therefore, a device for detecting seat occupancy is used to check whether at least one vehicle seat other than the driver's seat of the motor vehicle is occupied. If at least one vehicle seat is occupied, the control device evaluates at least one further operating input from a vehicle occupant. This further operating input specifies which sun visor should be moved into the functional position. In particular, when communicating with the control device via voice input, in which the control device is also designed to output speech, the control device can ask the vehicle occupant where in the motor vehicle the sun visor should be folded down in response to the voice input in the form of a command such as "put on make-up." The vehicle occupant can then specify this location via the further operating input, for example, via a voice input such as "passenger seat" or "front right,""rearright,""rearleft,""rearcenter," or the like. Such further operating inputs from the vehicle occupant can, however, also be made by means other than voice input, for example, via an operating element of the motor vehicle or via a mobile device coupled to the control device.

By evaluating the further operating input, the control device can quickly and easily ensure that the sun visor desired by the vehicle occupant, because it can be used by the occupant, is moved into the functional position.

Finally, it has proven advantageous if, when the device detects that at least one vehicle seat arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle behind a driver's seat of the motor vehicle is occupied, a folding element assigned to this vehicle seat is moved into a functional position. In the functional position, the folding element is folded down, for example from the roof lining of the motor vehicle. The control device then causes a storage compartment formed in the folding element and containing makeup utensils to open. In this way, vehicle occupants in a second or third row of seats can also be granted easy access to makeup utensils. A container containing the makeup utensils can also be arranged in the storage compartment formed in the folding element.

The motor vehicle according to the invention comprises a control device configured to receive an operating input made by a vehicle occupant. The motor vehicle further comprises a sensor arrangement by means of which it can be checked whether at least one predetermined criterion is met. The control device is configured to cause at least one sun visor of the motor vehicle to move from a stowed position to a functional position upon fulfillment of the at least one predetermined criterion and receipt of the operating input. In the functional position, the at least one sun visor is folded down. By means of a sensor device of the motor vehicle configured as a camera, it can be checked as the at least one predetermined criterion whether the motor vehicle is approaching a traffic light system that is emitting a red light signal or that will emit a red light signal until the motor vehicle arrives at the traffic light system. The control device is configured to cause a cover of a mirror attached to the at least one sun visor to move from a closed position of the cover to an open position. Accordingly, the motor vehicle is designed to carry out the method and an improved motor vehicle is created.

The control device comprises a processor device configured to carry out the method according to the invention or an embodiment thereof. For this purpose, the processor device may comprise at least one microprocessor and/or at least one microcontroller. Furthermore, the processor device may comprise program code configured to carry out the embodiment of the method according to the invention when executed by the processor device. The program code may be stored in a data memory of the processor device.

The invention also includes further developments of the motor vehicle that have features already described in connection with the further developments of the method. For this reason, the corresponding further developments of the motor vehicle are not described again here.

• 1 ausschnittsweise und teilweise schematisiert ein Kraftfahrzeug mit heruntergeklappter Sonnenblende, wobei ein Zugriff auf in der Sonnenblende untergebrachte Schminkutensilien ermöglicht ist;
• 2 schematisiert die heruntergeklappte Sonnenblende mit in einem Aufnahmefach der Sonnenblende untergebrachten Schminkutensilien gemäß einer ersten beispielhaften Anordnung;
• 3 schematisiert die heruntergeklappte Sonnenblende mit in einem Aufnahmefach der Sonnenblende untergebrachten Schminkutensilien gemäß einer zweiten beispielhaften Anordnung; und
• 4 schematisiert die heruntergeklappte Sonnenblende mit in einem Aufnahmefach der Sonnenblende untergebrachten Schminkutensilien gemäß einer dritten beispielhaften Anordnung.

An embodiment of the invention is described below. It shows:

• 1 a partial and partially schematic view of a motor vehicle with the sun visor folded down, allowing access to make-up utensils stored in the sun visor;
• 2 schematically shows the folded-down sun visor with make-up utensils accommodated in a compartment of the sun visor according to a first exemplary arrangement;
• 3 schematically shows the folded-down sun visor with make-up utensils accommodated in a compartment of the sun visor according to a second exemplary arrangement; and
• 4 schematically shows the folded-down sun visor with make-up utensils accommodated in a compartment of the sun visor according to a third exemplary arrangement.

The exemplary embodiment explained below is a preferred embodiment of the invention. In the exemplary embodiment, the described components of the embodiment each represent individual, independently considered features of the invention, which also further develop the invention independently of one another and are thus also to be considered as components of the invention, either individually or in a combination other than that shown. Furthermore, the described embodiment can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described.

In the figures, functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

From a motor vehicle 10 is in 1 a section of a passenger compartment 12 is shown. Arranged in the passenger compartment 12 is a first sun visor 14, which is shown in a folded-down functional position. This first sun visor 14 can be pivoted towards a side window (not shown) of the motor vehicle 10 by moving a web 16 of the first sun visor 14 out of a receptacle 18. The web 16 forms a pivot axis about which the first sun visor 14 can be folded down. When the first sun visor 14 is pivoted towards the side window of the motor vehicle 10, a second sun visor 20 can be folded down from the roof lining of the motor vehicle 10 and thus brought into its functional position.

In the present case, the first sun visor 14 and/or the second sun visor 20 are used to easily enable a (female) vehicle occupant, in particular a female driver of the motor vehicle 10, to check or correct her makeup. The method is described below using the first sun visor 14, but the method can also be carried out analogously for the second sun visor 20.

One in 1 The schematically shown control device 22 of the motor vehicle 10 receives an operating input from the vehicle occupant, in particular the driver, for example in the form of a voice input. For this purpose, the driver can, for example, utter the command "apply makeup."

A sensor device of the motor vehicle 10, which in this case is designed as a camera 24 and is located in 1 It is shown schematically whether the motor vehicle 10 is approaching a traffic light or a traffic light that is emitting a red light or is currently switching from yellow to red. If this is the case, the control device 22 controls an actuator, for example in the form of an electric motor, which causes the sun visor 14 to fold down. At the same time or subsequently, the control device 22 controls a cover 26 in the form of a sliding element, which, in its closed position, conceals a mirror 28 or vanity mirror of the sun visor 14. When the cover 26 is in the open position, the driver can see herself in the mirror 28.

In the sun visor 14, a storage compartment 30 or receiving compartment is formed, in which 1 schematically illustrated make-up utensils in the form of a lipstick 32, an eyeliner 34, and a powder compact 36. The list of such make-up utensils is merely exemplary, and a variety of other and/or alternative make-up utensils, such as cosmetic tissues, eye shadow sticks, brushes, or the like, can be arranged in the storage compartment 30. The make-up utensils can also be arranged in a removal box or a similar container, which can be removed from the storage compartment 30 and individually filled. Such a removal box can have a lid, which is also opened during or after the sun visor 14 is folded down, so that the driver has access to the make-up utensils. By providing a variably removable and individually fillable removal box or make-up box, the driver can keep exactly those make-up utensils at hand that she wishes to use to complete and/or improve her makeup. By positioning the make-up utensils in the area of the folded-down sun visor 14, they are easy to handle and can therefore be used by the driver.

Upon a command such as "Make-up finished" or "Done" or "Make-up finished," the cover 26 is returned to its closed position so that it covers the mirror 28, and the sun visor 14 is electrically moved back to its original or stowed position, in which the sun visor 14 is folded up. Thus, after accessing the box or container containing the make-up utensils and/or after accessing the storage compartment 30, a simple command can cause the control device 22 to cover the mirror 28 with the cover 26 and then fold up the sun visor 14.

It can be provided that both one of the sun visors 14, 20 assigned to the driver's seat and a sun visor 38 assigned to a passenger seat (see 2 ) with in 2 schematically shown make-up utensils such as lipsticks 32, eyeliners or eyeliners 34, and the like. The respective storage compartment 30 can also be designed in different sizes, depending on which equipment variant of the make-up utensils or the removal box the user of the motor vehicle 10 chooses.

If only the driver’s seat of the motor vehicle 10 is occupied by the (female) vehicle occupant in the form of the driver, the control device 22 can very easily determine that the first sun visor 14 or second sun visor 20 are to be folded down to provide the driver with makeup utensils. For this purpose, control device 22 can be in communication with a seat occupancy sensor 40 or a similar device for detecting seat occupancy. A camera can also be used to detect seat occupancy. If seat occupancy sensor 40 determines that, for example, there are vehicle occupants in the driver's seat and the front passenger seat, control device 22 can request the output of a further operating input. By evaluating the further operating input, control device 22 can determine which of the sun visors 14, 20, 38 are to be folded down to grant the vehicle occupant(s) access to the makeup utensils. For example, the control device 22 can output a voice message and ask at which point in the motor vehicle 10 the sun visor 14, 20, 38 should be folded down. However, it is also possible to communicate which of the sun visors 14, 20, 38 should be folded down by an operator input other than a voice input from the control device 22.

According to the presentation in 3 The storage compartment 30 can be equipped with make-up utensils such as the lipstick 32 and a powder compact 36 containing a plurality of eye shadows, face powder in different colors and the like. Furthermore, 3 It can be seen that when the cover 26 is opened, in particular by an electric actuator under control of the control device 22, a light source 42 is switched on. This allows the driver to see herself particularly well in the mirror 28 or vanity mirror.

From the presentation in 4 It is evident that, depending on the size of the storage compartment 30, it can also be equipped with a comparatively large number of make-up utensils. Also according to the illustration in 4 the light source 42 is switched on when the cover 26 is moved into the open position.

Folding elements or elements that automatically move into a functional position and can be closed manually or automatically can also be provided in the area of a rear seat bench or a second or third row of seats of the motor vehicle 10, which can be integrated, for example, into a roof lining of the motor vehicle 10. These folding elements can also be variably equipped with a corresponding removal box for make-up utensils, wherein the removal box is preferably designed to be removable.

Here, too, the folding elements can be moved into the functional position via voice input and/or via a keystroke or an operator input on a touchpad and/or touchscreen, or in a similar manner. A mobile device such as a smartphone can also be equipped with a corresponding convenience application. If the smartphone is connected to the control device 22, for example, via Bluetooth, the folding elements or the sun visors 14, 20, 38 can also be folded down via this application.

The seat occupancy sensor 40 can preferably also detect seat occupancy of the rear seats of the motor vehicle 10 and transmit this to the control device 22. The further operating input can then be used to inform the control device 22 which sun visor 14, 20, 38 or which folding element or similar storage device for the makeup utensils should be moved into the functional position in order to allow the respective vehicle occupant access to the makeup utensils.

Overall, the example demonstrates how the invention can be used to implement an "Intelligent Day Makeup Look" method, in which a makeup routine can be controlled via camera 24 or the front camera and a voice input or Bluetooth control. Thus, when the driver occupies a single seat, for example, the voice input "makeup" can be used to automatically trigger a makeup function, particularly when a traffic light is detected changing from yellow to red via a signal from camera 24.

Claims (8)

Method for operating a motor vehicle (10), in which a control device (22) of the motor vehicle (10) receives an operating input made by a vehicle occupant, wherein a sensor device (24) of the motor vehicle (10) is used to check whether at least one predetermined criterion is met, wherein upon fulfillment of the at least one predetermined criterion and receipt of the operating input, the control device (22) causes at least one sun visor (14, 38) of the motor vehicle (10) to move from a stowed position into a functional position in which the at least one sun visor (14, 38) is folded down, characterized in that by means of a sensor device (24) of the motor vehicle (10) designed as a camera, it is checked as the at least one predetermined criterion whether the motor vehicle vehicle (10) is driving towards a traffic light system which is emitting a red light signal, or which will emit a red light signal until the motor vehicle (10) arrives at the traffic light system, wherein the control device (22) causes a movement of a cover (26) of a mirror (28) attached to the at least one sun visor (14, 38) from a closed position of the cover (26) into an open position. Procedure according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the control device (22) causes an opening of a storage compartment (30) or storage compartment (30) for make-up utensils (32, 34, 36) formed in the at least one sun visor (14, 38) and containing make-up utensils (32, 34, 36). Procedure according to Claim 2 , characterized in that the control device (22) causes an opening of a container which is received, in particular detachably, in the storage compartment (30) and contains make-up utensils (32, 34, 36) and/or by removing the container from the storage compartment (30) a mirror arranged in the storage compartment (30) is exposed. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating input is made by the vehicle occupant as a voice input and/or as an input on an operating element of the motor vehicle (10) and/or as an input on a mobile terminal coupled to the control device (22). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a device (40) for detecting seat occupancy is used to check whether a driver's seat of the motor vehicle (10) is occupied, and when the driver's seat is occupied, at least one sun visor (14, 38) assigned to the driver's seat is moved into the functional position. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a device (40) for detecting seat occupancy is used to check whether at least one vehicle seat other than a driver's seat of the motor vehicle (10) is occupied, and if the at least one vehicle seat is occupied, the control device (22) evaluates at least one further operating input from a vehicle occupant which indicates which sun visor (14, 38) is to be moved into the functional position. Method according to one of the Claims 5 or 6 , characterized in that when it is detected by means of the device (40) that at least one vehicle seat arranged in the vehicle longitudinal direction behind a driver's seat of the motor vehicle (10) is occupied, a folding element assigned to this vehicle seat is moved into a functional position in which the folding element is folded down, wherein the control device (22) causes an opening of a storage compartment formed in the folding element and containing make-up utensils (32, 34, 36). Motor vehicle (10) with a control device (22) which is designed to receive an operating input made by a vehicle occupant, wherein the motor vehicle (10) comprises a sensor device (24) by means of which it can be checked whether at least one predetermined criterion is met, wherein the control device (22) is designed, upon fulfillment of the at least one predetermined criterion and receipt of the operating input, to cause at least one sun visor (14, 38) of the motor vehicle (10) to move from a stowed position into a functional position in which the at least one sun visor (14, 38) is folded down, characterized in that by means of a sensor device (24) of the motor vehicle (10) designed as a camera, it can be checked as the at least one predetermined criterion whether the motor vehicle (10) is approaching a traffic light system which emits a red light signal, or which will emit a red light signal until the motor vehicle (10) arrives at the traffic light system, wherein the Control device (22) is designed to cause a cover (26) of a mirror (28) attached to the at least one sun visor (14, 38) to move from a closed position of the cover (26) into an open position.

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